Retro Rugs: Where to Snag Your Shag

Shag carpeting is one of those retro throwbacks that has had a harder returning to vogue than, say, mahogany panels. But many of us grew up in houses that had it, so even if it's not "officially" trendy again, a bit of shag on the ground can really help make a mid-century house feel like home.

Shag carpet: (starts at $4 per square foot) Some homeowners who like the retro vibe are breaking up their hard surfaces with shag carpet. Soft underfoot, it comes in a wide variety of loop lengths, colors, sheens, and textures. New introductions involve weaving small metallic yarns into the shag to make it shimmer. Check into having regular wall-to-wall shag carpet cut down and hemmed to the size of an area rug for the ultimate in flexibility. Resources: Karastan; Modern Rugs; Shaw.